Ethanol's Octane Advantage

WHAT IS OCTANE AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

A fuel’s octane rating is a measure of its ability to resist “knocking” or “pinging,” which is caused by the air/fuel mixture detonating prematurely during combustion in the engine. According to the Department of Energy, “using a lower octane fuel than required can cause the engine to run poorly and can damage the engine and emissions control system over time. It may also void your warranty.” These vehicles will have poorer performance, reduced fuel efficiency and increased greenhouse gas production on lower octane fuels.

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Most of the benefits associated with using ethanol – from reducing petroleum imports to decreasing greenhouse gas emissions – are well known. However, one of ethanol’s most important benefits is also one of its best kept secrets: octane.

With a blending octane rating of 113, ethanol offers more engine knock resistance at a lower cost than any other gasoline additive available. Not too long ago, gasoline refiners produced all of the octane they needed at the refinery from petroleum feedstocks. But refinery processes to increase octane production are energy intensive and costly. In response to the growing availability of ethanol over the past decade, most U.S. gasoline producers have reduced octane production at the refinery and optimized their operations to take advantage of ethanol’s superior octane properties. Export markets are increasingly recognizing the appeal of using ethanol for its octane value as well.

Ethanol provides refiners with the lowest-cost solution for upgrading the octane content of gasoline to the minimum levels required for sale into commerce. Most refiners produce gasoline blendstock with an octane rating of 83 or 84, and upgrade it to 87 (the minimum allowable for “regular” grade gasoline in most states) by adding 10% ethanol.

Not only is ethanol the lowest-cost octane source, it is also the cleanest and safest option available. Hydrocarbon octane sources such as MTBE and aromatics like benzene are highly toxic and pose great risk to our air and water.

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